Valve spring compressor



April 3' H. T. ZIMMERMAN 2,316,830

VALVE SPRING COMPRES SOR Filed Oct. 12, 1942 3nvcntor f-ferirzarzTgii/z/rzerzrzaiz.

Patented Apr. 20, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFHCE VALVE SPRING COMPRESSOR Herman T. Zimmerman, Tulsa, Okla.

Application October 12, 1942, Serial No. 461,826

.2 Claims.

This invention relates to valve spring compressors of that class for use primarily on V-type engines, and has for its object to produce an equipment of low cost by which a valve spring can be compressed by a single operator with ease and dispatch, and be locked in such condition, if desired, to leave the operator with both hands free for removing the keeper or key from the valve stem so that the valve can be raised or removed from its seat or be oscillated for grinding purposes.

A further object is to produce valve spring compressor equipment characterized by extreme simplicity, strength and durability, and by convenience of storage in knock-down condition, to occupy but a very small space.

With the above-named objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and organization as hereinafter described and claimed; and in order that it may they appear after the valve spring has been I compressed, although the compression of the spring is not shown to avoid a confusion of lines.

Figure 2 is a view looking vertically downward on the construction as illustrated by Figure 1, the locking bar for use only to hold the spring compressed, appearing in full lines.

Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the valve hold-down element.

Figure 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the locking element.

Figure 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the lever for effecting compression of the spring.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, reference characters I to 1 inclusive, identify the motor block, the cover-holding bolts, the valve head, the stem of the valve, the guide for said stem, the spring for holding the valve on its seat and the keeper or key upon the valve stem at the lower end of the spring, all of the parts above enumerated being of any conventional or suitable type common in V-type motors.

To hold a valve down upon its seat when the spring thereof is subjected to upward pressure to free the keeper or key for removal preliminary to the raising or removal of the valve, a strong flat hold-clown bar 3, is placed upon the motor block, with one end resting upon the head of the valve to be relieved of control by its spring, the opposite end of the bar projecting beyond the side of the motor block, and welded or otherwise firmly secured at its lower edge to the hold-down bar and extending cross-wise thereof is a bar 9, bridging the space between and bearing against two of the bolts 2; the bar 9, being of such proportion that it does not contact and hence cannot mar or injure the threaded surfaces of the bolts. The free or overhang end or" the holddown bar is provided with a perforation iii, and between the latter and the block, with a depending eye ll, welded or otherwise secured in place, and suspended from said eye is a strong chain or cable [2.

A lever l3, is disposed transversely as shown, or angularly, if necessary because of lack of available space. The lever partly underlies the motor block, and at the end underlying the block, is forked as at It, which end is adapted to he slipped between the lower end of the spring and the keeper or key, the fork of the lever receiving the valve stem to guard against accidental slippage and dislocation of the lever from the stem. Near the forked end of the lever and secured to the latter by welding or otherwise, is an upstanding hook l5, engaged by one of the links of the chain 12, it being noted that the chain bears against and partly underlies the block. The location of the hook adjacent the valve stem, makes provision for maximum leverage by the lever in the spring-compressing operation.

When the parts occupy their initial positions, the chain will not be under tension and the operator can easily manipulate the lever to operative relation to the stem, spring and keeper, and when the parts are so related, the lever will occupy a horizontal or near horizontal position. Downward pressure on the handle end of th lever tensions the chain and fulcrums on the lower end thereof and hence applies upward pressure on and compresses the spring, the bottom of the block being the resistance point for the spring. This action takes the pressure of the spring off the keeper and leaves the latter free for removal from the valve stem. By holding the lever depressed at its handle end with one hand, the other hand can be utilized for easy removal of the keeper. As in some instances, the operator may find it desirable to hold the valve locked against the control of the spring to have both hands free, the lever is provided at an intermediate point of its upper side, with a longitudinal series of cross teeth 16, to provide selective anchorage points for the lower end of a looking or brace bar H, for standing at an angle for best bracing purposes. The upper end, of the locking bar is reduced to provide a tongue [8, to engage the perforation of the hold-down bar, and a shoulder l9, to bear against the underside of the said bar, and the lower end of said locking bar is notched as at 20, the base of the notch fitting between two teeth of the lever. The notching of the bar provides side extensions 2!, for engaging opposite edges of the lever to guard against accidental dislocation of the latter relative to the locking bar.

For motors of material difierent dimensions locking bars of different lengths may be found desirable, but the proportions of the other parts may be fixed.

From the above description taken in conjunction with the drawing, it will be apparent that I have produced an equipment embodying the advantages set forth as the objects of the invention, and it is to be understood that modifications or changes may be resorted to as part of this invention, provided they fall within the ambit of the appended claims.

I claim:

1; The combination of a hold-down bar for resting at one end upon the head of a poppet valve, and also for resting upon the motor block for said valve and for overhanging the block at one side thereof, and provided at the overhang end with a depending hook; a bar extending crosswise of and fixed to the hold-down bar and adapted for bridging the space between and bearing against the inner sides of a pair of the bolts by which a cover for the block is secured in place; a chain attached to said hook and depending therefrom and adapted to bear at; an intermediate point in its length against the motor block and for underlying the latter; a lever having one end for underlying the spring of the valve engaged by the hold-down bar, and pivotally connected to said chain adjacent; said spring for operation to compress said spring, and means for holding the spring in compressed condition by offering resistance to downward movement of the lever where adapted for engagement with the spring.

2. The combination of a hold-down bar for resting on a motor block and at one end upon the head of a poppet valve of said block and at the other end to overhang the side of such block, and provided at the overhang end with an opening and a depending hook; a bar extending crosswise of and fixed to the hold-down bar and for bridging the space between a pair of the motor block bolts by which the block cover is secured in place and for bearing against the inner sides of such bolts; a chain depending fromgsaid hook and for bearing against the side of the motor block and for underlying the latter; a lever having one end for underlying the spring of the valve for engagement by the hold-down bar, and pivotally connected to said chain adjacent said end, and provided outward of said pivotal point with cross teeth; and a brace bar engaging the opening of and bearing against the underside of the hold-down bar and engaging cross teeth of the lever, to hold the spring in compressed condi- 

